Football league dictatorship

[seagull_special]

The football league should hang their head in shame, thuggish bullying of small clubs, threatening to expel clubs if they appeal against draconian measures, be warned no club is safe including ours. Any organization headed by a politician is a very dodgy club. Plus football is now distorted. Your position is not based on games won drawn and lost but how many points have been deducted. All our friends were there when we needed them I think we should do something for the Lutons', Bournmouths' and Rotherhams' any suggestions

 

[Fixtures]

I hear what you are saying. But at the same time you have to remember that every time a club goes into administration, there are a whole bunch of little people whose bills don't get paid. Luton aren't victimless victims.

 

[Gully]

Very true Fixtures, there has been pretty widespread vilification on here of Leeds and the way they have handled their financial affairs...when someone shirks on a payment to St Johns Ambulance then maybe there is some justification in that. However, as you point out, there are bound to be creditors who have been let down by the failings of clubs like Luton, Bournemouth and Rotherham. My feeling is that things will even themselves out over the next say ten years, we talked on here about clubs going to the wall, even though this was widely predicted perhaps four or five years ago it hasn't really happened yet...I think the lower reaches of the league may look vastly different by way of their make up in as little as five years time, there are plenty of very well run clubs in or around the Conference (and lower), their time may be about to come...I can certainly see there being another team called Wimbledon in the league, in the not too distant future.

 

[steward 433]

Gully fair point that people are owed the money BUT Leeds did this on purpose whereas Luton have at least TRIED not to go under

 

[Brovion]

Gully fair point that people are owed the money BUT Leeds did this on purpose whereas Luton have at least TRIED not to go under

I disagree. Their chairman said he wanted to get into the Premiership, and like Leeds (and others) they lived beyond their means. Their problems are entirely of their own making as they, like Leeds, tried to 'live the dream'. Fair enough, but if you fail you've got to face the consequences. I actually don't think the penalties on badly-run clubs are severe enough.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

I disagree. Their chairman said he wanted to get into the Premiership, and like Leeds (and others) they lived beyond their means. Their problems are entirely of their own making as they, like Leeds, tried to 'live the dream'. Fair enough, but if you fail you've got to face the consequences. I actually don't think the penalties on badly-run clubs are severe enough.

I think the steward was referring to the way that Ken Bates decided to exit the CVA rather than the issues under the Ridsdale administration. Luton's chairman having unrealistic targets and doing anything to achieve them is vastly different to effectively cheating your way out of a CVA which is what Bates tried to do.

 

[steward 433]

I think the steward was referring to the way that Ken Bates decided to exit the CVA rather than the issues under the Ridsdale administration. Luton's chairman having unrealistic targets and doing anything to achieve them is vastly different to effectively cheating your way out of a CVA which is what Bates tried to do.

Correct Kaiser i just worded it really badly

The new luton is being punished for the old living beyond their means

This means no clubs will be rescued from administration now as who will want to buy a club that WILL be relegated??

 

[bhaexpress]

Correct Kaiser i just worded it really badly

The new luton is being punished for the old living beyond their means

This means no clubs will be rescued from administration now as who will want to buy a club that WILL be relegated??

Yes but in theory Leeds can say the same. We just feel a bit more sympathy for Luton as they are a small club with fewer delusions of grandier.

 

[Brovion]

I think the steward was referring to the way that Ken Bates decided to exit the CVA rather than the issues under the Ridsdale administration. Luton's chairman having unrealistic targets and doing anything to achieve them is vastly different to effectively cheating your way out of a CVA which is what Bates tried to do.

My point still stands. Ok, Luton aren't as 'bad' as Leeds, but when you get clubs like Luton who say something like "Come and play for us Darren Currie at £10,000 per week" - even though they can't afford to pay it - that raises the bar for the rest of us. There is a risk that even prudently-run clubs like Brighton could get pushed to the brink because of pressure to 'keep up with the Jonses''.

Ergo I still have no sympathy with Luton.

 

[seagull_special]

All the points made other are well thought out but my point is the punishment is excessive basically double relegation and a fine and its being paid by the new administration and the fans. Surely the people responsible should pay in the courts also this 'no right of appeal' stinks

 

[bhaexpress]

My point still stands. Ok, Luton aren't as 'bad' as Leeds, but when you get clubs like Luton who say something like "Come and play for us Darren Currie at £10,000 per week" - even though they can't afford to pay it - that raises the bar for the rest of us. There is a risk that even prudently-run clubs like Brighton could get pushed to the brink because of pressure to 'keep up with the Jonses''.

Ergo I still have no sympathy with Luton.

Correct, I don't either, they broke the rules and now they are paying a very heavy price but maybe it'll make other clubs think twice. Frankly their chances of being a league club at the end of next season are pretty slim but they made the wrong choices.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The no right of appeal stipulation has only come about because of what happened with Leeds. Before there was a glimmer of hope that part of the punishment could be rescinded or suspended but that wont happen anymore.

 

[Simster]

My point still stands. Ok, Luton aren't as 'bad' as Leeds, but when you get clubs like Luton who say something like "Come and play for us Darren Currie at £10,000 per week" - even though they can't afford to pay it - that raises the bar for the rest of us. There is a risk that even prudently-run clubs like Brighton could get pushed to the brink because of pressure to 'keep up with the Jonses''.

Ergo I still have no sympathy with Luton.

Wise words. Lets see if their board attempts to take the FL/FA to court unlike that twat Bates and that Leeds muppet who comes on here.



I do have sympathy with Luton's fans in other areas - they are still no closer to a new stadium and they have MK Dons on their doorstep - a club who stole a place in the league and are based in a new town where planning is never the sort of issue in other places.

 

[Ex-Staffs Gull]

We got stitched by Archer and Bullshitty, we would probably have gone into admin if it happened now, we were just lucky as fans. Remember we had been on the verge of the top flight in 1991 and 5 years later we were in all sorts of trouble. Who on here was complaining in 1991. We as supporters are not always privialged to wage information and financial info (for example, who can tell me what Virgo or Forster are on?), but we hope the people in charge are looking after the club. Luton were very unlucky.

I have Just been sent this by a Luton supporting mate.

So the time for diplomacy and politeness is now officially over.

The regulators that govern this game have now decided that it is bullying season for the smaller clubs meanwhile applying no commercialism or willingness to open their eyes to realism to protect all and execute equality that they preach and is expected by all that fall under their powers. It is quite clear that they are so far detached from the real issues that impact this game and you have to start believing that they have also been sucked into the greed that motivates those in the Premiership.

Lord Mawhinney should hang his head in shame. He claims it is “…the board’s responsibility to protect the integrity of their competitions…” Well yes we all agree with that, but how has that principle been applied in this case?
What other industry blackmails you into accepting their decision to re-gain membership without any fair right of appeal. How is this viewed under EU law?
Has he actually taken stock of all the facts behind this whole situation?
Has he actually realised that it was his Committee that previously approved through their ‘fit and proper test’ a group of people taking over this Club that included a former second-hand car salesman, a serial bankrupt and a financial director who was previously caught up in high profile financial irregularities at another Club.
Did he realise that one of the previous administrations was instigated by the fans because another corrupt person had been given power to take over the Club for his personal financial gain?
Has he actually understood all the pain and lies the fans have incurred in recent years?
Has he understood what a football club means to a local community?
Has he actually taken the time and effort to read all that 2020 has presented to him?
Has he really any integrity?
How can he come out with the comment to Rotherham that it is ordinarily required for a club to play its matches in its existing town? So then Mr Mawhinney can you explain when the AA map was changed that located Wimbledon in Buckinghamshire…
Can he sleep comfortably in the knowledge that justice has been served here and this decision is for the good of the game?

To all those questions the same answer applies, i.e. ‘clearly not’ and like the rest of football he’s probably more interested in the fact that some pretty boy in Manchester getting paid £120,000 per week is considered a slave, albeit a well-paid one, and also that rules are there to just be made up as they go along.

Well Mr Mawhinney you sir are an absolute disgrace to this game. You are presented with a blueprint to take football forward and one that looks after and protects its stakeholders, i.e. the fans and all you do is throw it back in our faces.

Loyal Luton stands 100% behind the 2020 team and all that they stand for. We commend Gary, Stephen and Antony as well as all the investors for all that they have done so far and for standing behind their beliefs. Clearly the FA and FL have shown that cheating wins, yet more than ever we are determined to maintain the moral high ground for honesty and transparency and hold our heads high. We know the incredible effort that the 2020 team is putting in and it must be heart-wrenching to get treated like they have by the authorities, however, we are not defeatist and we will all carry on fighting to ensure we survive.

I have had many mails asking what we do now. The message is simple. WE STICK TOGETHER.

There will always be a Luton, a Luton we will love and no-one will ever take this away from us. The authorities may try to bully us but they will never win. We should all get season tickets and support this great club more than ever and show the football authorities what true loyal fans really believe in.

Also we all have to take stock and above all make sure that we enjoy the next nine or ten months. Football brings us all together and will not part us so let’s have some fun on this roller-coaster of a journey.

We also are extremely grateful for a manager and great person such as Mick Harford at the helm. His words post this decision are truly eye-watering and epitomise the immense legend that he is and he also gets our full 100% support.

The season kicks off tomorrow at Borehamwood and for those interested in going there is a regular train service on the Thameslink and it is likely that the new Loyal Luton flag will make its debut.

Further information will be forthcoming in respect of the appeal taking place next week but in the meantime please all try to enjoy the weekend.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

We can debate the punishment itself and if it's just or not until the cows come home but not allowing Luton any form of appeal is fundamentally wrong and nothinh short of BULLYING by the league.